How to Recover From Open Heart Surgery

Open-heart surgery may need to be performed to replace a heart valve or do a coronary bypass. An incision is made on the chest and the sternum is cut open. Not only does the heart have to heal after surgery, but the incision and the sternum also need time to mend. The speed at which a person recovers depends on a variety of factors such as age, medical procedure performed and overall health.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Get discharge instructions from your doctor. Your physician will provide you with information on what you are allowed to do immediately after discharge. She will also provide you with a timeline on when you can add additional activities such as driving and returning to work.

2. Understand complications to watch for. Be aware of sudden weight gain, which may mean you are retaining fluid. This can be a sign of congestive heart failure. Other indications of a problem are a fever and oozing from the incision. Contact your doctor if you experience any of the above.

3. Wear compression stockings if directed by your doctor. They help improve blood flow and may prevent blood clots, which occur in some people after surgery. Avoid sitting with your legs crossed for long periods of time, which restricts blood flow.

4. Restrict lifting heavy objects. Your doctor will inform you regarding the amount of weight you may lift. The sternum needs time to heal and lifting can place too much strain on it. Lifting heavy objects may also increase blood pressure, which your physician may want to avoid especially right after open-heart surgery.

5. Follow all diet restrictions. Depending on the type of open heart surgery you have had your doctor may have suggested dietary changes. Meet with a nutritionist to understand what types of food are off limits and what is healthy.

6. Enroll in a cardiac rehabilitation program. For some types of open-heart surgery a rehabilitation program will be highly beneficial. A program will include information on life style changes. An exercise program will also be developed for participants.

7. Be patient. You may be anxious to return to your pervious activity level, however your body needs time to heal. Don't overdo activities, which may slow healing and cause complications. Follow your physician's recommendations and pace yourself.

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[smile4me]

on 10/27/2009 I went through open heart surgery and the recovery process. I wrote a journal about it and included tips on how to deal with it as well as how to treat the scar. I hope this helps

http://www.mymedworld.com/user/anna